To make a handbag like Oprah wanted to see for potential purchase, the crocodile must be dead so the hide can be removed. (Photo: Cropped/ Library of Congress; Matson Photo, 1936)When I wrote about emerging details in Oprah-Gate, I said I was appalled at the prospect of Oprah Winfrey paying $38,000 for a purse made from an animal’s hide. Why?

Oprah’s politics run far left and she’s been recognized for advocating for animal rights. Seems like a double standard, especially when you consider what PETA thought of the wealthy celeb.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals must be fuming:

PETA, the world’s largest animal rights group, named Winfrey “person of the year” in 2008 after she spoke out against the wearing of fur. [The Local—Switzerland]

Thus far, a leading animal rights group in Switzerland has taken a dim view of the bag affair, but not much has come forth from PETA.

Crocodiles aren’t all warm and fuzzy like furry mammals, but Oprah is smart enough to make the mental leap. Crocs need defending just as much as foxes and beavers and slithery creepy creatures, right?

Swiss news services picked up the tale of the croc bag after Oprah told media a sales clerk at a boutique refused to show her the expensive handbag.

Most news services picked up the racism claims and dismissed everything else including reality.